Landlord 101: Cleveland Heights Part 1

Landlord 101 is part of a new series of informational posts that reviews what a landlord could expect from each city/town/municipality in the Northeast Ohio area. As our firm is based in Cleveland Heights, it only makes sense that we start here. This article is only part one, but don’t fret, part two will soon be coming.

Now to the basics: In Cleveland Heights, disputes between landlords and tenants can be heard by the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court. Some examples of what the Court will hear include evictions, rent deposits, and nuisance abatements. Let’s review some situations where you may find yourself in.

My tenant has not paid their rent on time rent. Must I file an eviction with the Court to have them removed?

Yes. In the entire state of Ohio, a landlord of residential premises cannot physically remove the tenant from the premises, terminate utilities, or change the locks to encourage a tenant to move out.

In Ohio, these types of acts are commonly referred to as “self-help.” “Self-help” is illegal in Ohio. Ohio requires that a landlord serve the appropriate notice(s), file a complaint against the tenant, go to court, be granted a judgment, and follow the court-instituted eviction procedure to remove the tenant from the premises.

If I have a tenant I want to evict, how long does the eviction process take?

Unfortunately, each individual case is different; meaning that there is no strict timeframe that applies to all cases. Generally, a landlord must begin the process by serving a 3-day notice. After the landlord has served the notice and three days have passed, the landlord can file their complaint seeking an eviction. In Cleveland Heights, eviction hearings are most often held on Wednesdays. Generally, the Court will schedule the hearing three weeks after the complaint is filed. If the eviction is granted, the tenant is generally given seven days to move out. However, should the tenant remain at the property after being evicted, the bailiff of the Court will physically remove the tenant from the property.

If you have any further questions, our Team at N.P. Weiss Law handles evictions everyday and would be happy to answer any question you may have.

*This information is provided directly from the City of Cleveland Heights and is accurate as to the day this article was published.

By: Nicholas P. Weiss, Esq